Smoke oven



Feb. 22, 1944. E. A. SCHIEWE 2,342,373-

SMOKE OVEN Filed July 30, 1940 4 SheebS-Sheet l www 4." 52mm 4 r rf s r INVENTOR WL BY f ATTORNEY Feb. 22, lN44. E. A. scHlEwE SMOKE OVEN Filed July 30, 1940 4 SheetS -Sheet 2 Iawrdi ,5105212 We INVENTOR BY 47 ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1944.

E. A. sci-"EWE 2,342,373

SMOKE OVEN Filed July 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 47., v l x INVENTQR ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1944. E A 5cl-"EWE 2,342,373

SMOKE OVEN Filed July 30 1940 4 Sheets-Shee 4 fos INVENTOR BY V ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1944 SMOKE OVEN Edward A. Schiewe, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Delaware Application Sluly 30, 1940, Serial No. 348,467

6 Claims.

This invention relates to smoke houses for curing meat products and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved smoke `house construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for revolving products being cured or smoked during such processing.

Another object of the invention resides in the construction of a smoke house with Xed overhead tracks `for sustaining' transferable product supporting elemen-ts, and means for revolving a plurality of such product supporting elements in said smoke house.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved mounting for a product supporting element onwhich product to be smokedor cured may `be hung so that the supporting element It has been suggested that smoke houses be constructed in such a manner as to permit movement of the elements on whichthe product to be smoke is carried. This type of construction usually takes one of'two forms: an endless 'conveyor traveling throughout the smoke house on which product is hung, or revolving individual smoke trees or cages in which product is hung. My invention relates to the latter type of smoke oven, in which product to be cured is loaded on smoke trees outside of the oven, the smoke trees travel on overhead rails from the point of loading to the smoke oven, and an arrangement whereby the smoke trees are revolved Within the oven.

It has been found that movement of the product being smoked results in a more uniform .product, apparently due to the' fact that movement of the product subjects each piece to the same conditioning atmosphere as other piecesv in the smoke house, and thereby prevents some product from being oversmoked while other product adjacent to it is undersmoked.

In the smoke oven disclosed hereimthe smoke trees are revolved at a speed of .approximately one revolution per minute. The movement f the trees, while slight, does interfere with a direct upward movement of the smoke, causing it to be deflected laterally, and thereby secures uniform treatment for the product contained thereon.

In addition to developing this arrangement ior a smoke house which results in an improved product, I have been able to combine with that arrangement features which permit it to be used for display purposes. I have designed a smoke house in which the operations involved in smoking product can be clearly seen and studied.

The invention will be readily understood by reference to the drawings in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts of the several gures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through myimproved smoke house at the vertical plane I--I of Figure 5. i

Figure 2 is a plan view at the horizontal plane 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the smoke pit preferred in connection with the smoke house of the present invention, such as along the vertical plane 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the air pipes used in connection with the fire pit shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan View at the horizontal plane 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the layout of the oven and of the trolley rails in the first oor of the oven.

Figure 6 is a plan View at the horizontal plane (5-6 of Figure' 1, showing the layout of the second floor of the oven and showing a number of smoke trees in place for the smoking operation.

Figure 7 is a partial plan View along the horizontal plane l-l of Figure l, showing the layout of the mechanism used for causing the smoke trees in the iirs't floor oven to revolve.

Figure 8 is a plan View along the horizontal plane 8--8 of Figure 1, and shows the layout of the mechanism causing rotation of the smoke trees located in the second story.

Figure 9 is an enlarged side view of the preierred mechanism used to rotate the smoketrees.

Figure 1l) is an enlarged end view of the preierred driving means used to` cause the smoke trees to revolve, such as at theverticalV plane lll- Hl of Figures 5 and 6.

Figure l1 is a side view of the carriage `for supporting the rotatable smoke trees.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional end view .of the carriage supporting the rotatable smoke trees.-

A preferred embodiment `oi my invention is designed for displaying the smoking ,of meat products in an exhibition hall or like `building 20, as shown-in Figure l, and comprises aVv plurality of individual two-story smoke houses` such asfzl, 22,` 23, and 2li, grouped around an operating alley 25,y asv more clearly shown in- Figures 2 andt5 to 8. Each of the smoke houses isoperated independ -motor driven exhaust fan 57.

ently but all are grouped to form a unitary structure 25. In such an embodiment of a smoke oven it is desirable that the outer walls be transparent as will be more fully described hereafter.

Still referring to Figure l, the smoke oven 25 is constructed upon a floor 2l which preferably is slightly lower than the floor 23 of the exhibition hall 23. In view of the fact that the preferred embodiment discloses a smoke oven in which the smoking operations are visible from the outside, the outer wall of the oven is constructed of glass or similar transparent material, and is preferablyr of polygonal shape. In the preferred embodiment of my invention I employ outer walls of double panes of plate glass, such as 29 and 35, (Figures and 10) separated by an air space 3l and set in frames 32, so that while the walls are transparent they do not conduct heat therethrough. As shown in Figure 5, the glass walls are supported by a plurality of columns 33 constructed 01A steel or other suitable material. A railing 34 around the smoke oven protects the glass wall from damage by persons watching the operation of the oven.

lAs indicated in Figure l each of the individual smoke ovens and the operating alleys are divided into three floors, the lower of which is the nre pit 35 in which the smoke and generating apparatus of the oven is located. Above the re pit 35 is the iirst iioor section 33 in which meat or similar products can be hung for smoking. The floor of this section 3S will be approximately, or preferably slightly above the oor 28 of the exhibition building 20, so as to permit persons to View the iire pit, and so that the product which is contained in the iirst floor section is approximately at eye level. Above the first floor section 36 is a second section or story 3l similar in all respects to the rst story or section 35.

Fire pit 35 is separated from the first iioor oven 3S by means of steam coils 38 resting upon any such suitable support such as I beams 33o. AIt is desirable to maintain the temperature uniform throughout the smoke house so that it is advisable to have the steam coils 38 relatively closely spaced throughout lthe floor area of the smoke oven. superimposed upon the steam coils 38 is a grating 39 which serves as a iloor suitable for use by operators, but which will not interfere materially with the ow of heat, smoke, and air therethrough. Likewise, the rst door of the oven is separated from the second floor thereof by a second steam coil 45 supported on any suitable means, such as I beams 4I. superimposed upon steam coils 45 likewise is grating 63.

Smoke and atmosphere from each smoke oven are exhausted through vents 33 located in the yroof 44 of each oven. These vents comprise an exhaust duct 45 opening to the outer atmosphere, equipped with a'suitable damper 45 and with a The exhaust duct can be concealed and braced in any suitable manner from rigid means such as the false smokestack 48.

As best indicated in the plan views and Figure 5 in particular, the preferred embodiment of my invention discloses a plurality of individual smoke ovens, such as 2|, 22, 23, and 24, grouped around an operating alley 25. rIhe individual ovens are separated by partitions 49, 55, 5l, 52 and 53, constructed of a strong sanitary material such as brick with a tile surface. The arrangement of each of the individual smoke ovens is substantial-lyA identical, so that a detailed description of any of them would illustrate the arrangement of every other oven.

As shown in Figure 2, the oor of re pit 35 is preferably one that is impervious to moisture 5 such as concrete or brick and slopes gently to a floor drain 55, so that the oven may be periodically washed and the water readily removed therefrom. Access to the re pit may be gained from the operating alley 2 5 lby means of doorway 55 which may be tightly closed vby means of a Atight tting door 53. It will be noted that roughly positioned in the center of the i'lre pit 35 'of each individual smoke oven is located a smoke box 57.

The smoke box is supplied with air from fan 58 which is located in the nre pit operating alley .and is driven by motor 53. The fan is connected 'by meansof piping 6U to the smoke box air pipe 5I. Preferably a steam nozzle 52 is set in the Hoor on each side of the smoke box, and connected to steam line 53. Emission of steam therefrom is regulated by a steam valve 54 located in the operating alley and on the steam line. By this means the humidity of the oven, which is very important in smoking meats, can be controlled at all times from a point outside the oven.

Any of the known smoke generators could be used for generating smoke. However, as more clearly shown in Figure 3, I have used as a smoke pit a small smoke box 65 set in the re pit floor 21. The smoke Ibox 41 is formed by a rectangular Wall S6 integral with the floor and with the portion of one side wall removed as at 5l. The wall and floor within the box should be lined with re brick 58, or similar material. Centrally located within smoke box 5l is air pipe 6l containing a plurality of air outlets 59 as shown in detail in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 5, access to the rst iioor of each of the individual ovens from operating alley 25 may be secured through doorway I0 which may be tightly 'closed by door TI. The operating alley 25 likewise opens into meat holding room 12. A trolley rail 'I3 extends from meat hanging room 'l2 throughout the length of the operating alley 25, and branches into each of the individual smoke ovens. rA preferred arrangement of the trolley rails 13 within the individual smoke ovens is shown in Figure 5, although other arrangements could be used Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Referring to Figure 6, it is seen that the arrangement of' the second floor of the smoke oven is similar to that. of the rst floor: doorway 14 opening into the operating alley 25, being tightly closed by door l5. A trolley rail 'I8 extends from the meat hanging room 12 through the operating alley and into each ofthe individual smoke ovens on the second-floor level. I prefer that the arrangement of the trolley rails in the second floor be identical with that of the rst.

It is, of course, understood that the trolley rails 13 and 'IS are'aiixed to the ceilings of their respective sections as by trolley rail hangers 1l, as shown in Figure 10.

Referring to Figure 10, products to be smoked, such as hams 13, may be hung for movement along the fixed trolley rails 13 or 16 to and from the smoke oven, and for suspension within the smoke oven on smoke trees or frames 13. The smoke trees 'i9 may comprise a central vertical bar or tube 80 to which are aflixed a plurality vofhorizontal bars 8l upon which the product can be suspended.` f

Figures l1 and 12 give the detailed construction of the smoke tree suspension means. The central rod 88 is supported on the trolley rail by means of a carriage 82 comprising a horizontal plate 83 to which are aiiixed uprights 84 at each end thereof. The upper portion ofthe uprights 84 are bent over to form an inverted U as at 85 with upright 84 and end 86 forming the sides. Trolley wheels 81 are aiixed to an axle 88, the ends of which are journaled in bearings 89 in the upright 84, and bearings 98 of the inverted portion in the end 86 of each upright. A bar 9| connects the upper portions of the two uprights in order to strengthen the carriage.

The base plate 83 of the carriage is provided with bearing blocks, one, such as 92, being located Asubstantially beneath the trolley wheels 81 and approximately midway between the ends of the base plate 83, and the other 93 in spaced relationship thereto. The central rod 88 of the smoke tree is journaled in suitable bearings in the bearing block 92, such as roller bearings 94. A gear 95 is firmly aflixed to the central rod 88, as by nut 8S, so that rotation of the former will provide rotation for the latter. A collar 91 below the bearing block 92 prevents the central rod from being lifted out of position. A second gear 98 is aflixed to axle 99, which is journaled in bearing |88, in bearing block 93. The second gear 98 meshes with the gear 95 affixed tothe central rod of the smoke tree. The upper end of the axle 99 is provided with a tongue |8| which meshes with a groove in the driving apparatus hereinafter to be described.

Referring now to Figures 9 and l0, rotation of the smoke trees within each oven is provided by an electric motor |82, suspended from and adjacent to the ceiling 44, in each individual smoke oven. The armature of the motor is connected with reducing gears |83, which in turn drive sprocket wheel |84. Adjacent to the motor |82 and substantially parallel with the axis of its armature is a shaft |85 extending substantially across the smoke oven. The shaft |85 is journaled in bearings |881) aflixed to the ceiling in any suitable manner, such as by hangers |86a. A roller chain |88 connects the driving sprocket |84 with a similar sprocket |89 aflixed to the shaft |85. One end of the shaft |85 is coupled with a mitre gear box |86 by coupling |81. Preferably the mitre gear box |86 will be located in the smoke oven adjacent to the wall located nearest to the dead end of the trolley rail 16. At predetermined points on the shaft |85 are rigidly secured sprockets H8, such sprockets being lo.- cated at points on the shaft |85 opposite tothe preselected stations for location of the smoke trees 19. Aflixed to the. trolley rail hangers 11 at the preselected points for hanging the smoke trees 19 are arms I||, in which is journaled a vertical shaft I2. Io the upper end of shaft l2 is rigidly secured gear |3 and to the lower end is affixed a slidable collar I4, the lower end of which is provided with a groove I|5 that meshes with the tongue |8| on gear 98 of each tree. A compression spring |I6 between the collar ||4 and one of the arms exert a downward pressure on the collar ||4 at all times. A guide rail ||1 in spaced relationship to trolley rail 13 or 16 is often desirable to prevent swaying of the smoke trees 19. The gear I |3 meshes with the gears, not shown in detail, of a mitre box ||8 which is suspended immediately above the trolley rail hanger 11 of rail 15. vSprocket ||9 of mitre box ||8 is coupled with the driving sprockets |`|8 on shaft |85' by means of roller chain |28.

The mitre box |86, by means of gearing not shown, rotates a vertical drive shaft |2|.r The 5 vertical shaft |2| extends through the grating 42 and steam coils 48 constituting the flooring of the second story ofthe smoke house, and' the ceiling of the first story, and is coupled to a sec"- ond mitre box |22 below said steam coils. The second mitre box |22 translates the motion from the vertical shaft |2| to the rotation of a. horizontal drive shaft |123' which. extends substantially across the ceiling of` the first floor of'. the smoke oven. The drive shaft |23 is journaled in suitable bearings |24! suspended from the ceiling of such section of the smoke oven as by hangers |25.

At preselected points along the trolley rai-ladjacent to the ceiling of the first floor ofi the smoke oven, the trolley rail hangers` are provided with the driving arrangement described. in

detail in connection with the second story, which brieiiy comprises the arms |i|r| integral, with'y the trolley hanger 11, a vertical shaft ||2 journaled 25 therein, to the lower end of which. is affixed slidable collar I4 provided with groove |5. A mitre box ||8 is axed to the ceiling and as closely as may be convenient to the vertical shaft H6.

Sprockets H8 on the drive shaft |23 drive sprockets ||9 on mitre box H8 by means of chain |28.

In some instances, as disclosed in the lower section of Figure 10, the construction of the smoke oven ceiling prevents the location of. the mitre box H8 immediately adjacent. to. agear ||3 on vertical shaft ||2, so thatv the driving gear of mitre box H8 can not mesh therewith. In such instances the mitre box ||8 is provided with a driving sprocket |26 and the gear ||3 on shaft ||2 is replaced by a sprocket |21, and the two connected by a roller chain |28.

Preferably adjacent smoke trees will rotate vin opposite directions. This rotation is easily secured by anyone familiar with mechanics. The revolving of adjacent smoke trees in opposite directions creates a better dispersion of the smoke and conditioning atmosphere of the oven, resulting in a more uniform product.

By means of the gearing shown herein, the smoke trees in each smokeoven are revolved at'a predetermined speed from a single motor.

In the operation of the oven the product to be smoked, such as hams 18, are loaded onto the smoke tree 19 in the meat hanging room 12'. The required number of smoke trees 19 are then pushed into the smoke oven by hand along the overhead trolley rails 13 and 18, one being placed at each of the preselected points. The slidable collar |4 is raised by the operator andv then permitted to drop on the tongue |8| affixed to gear 98 of the smoke tree. The smoke tree is thereby engaged with the driving apparatus of the whole smoke oven. After all the smoke trees have been properly placed and engaged with the driving apparatus, the operator may close the door and start the motor |82. Motion of the motor armature is transmitted to all of the revolvable collars ||4 in that smoke oven by the gearing shown in Figures 9 and 18 and fully described above. If the collar l|4 has been meshed with tongue |8| of the smoke tree, the tree in turn will revolve; as indicated above, this rotation may be relatively slow as, for example, one revolution per minute. However, this rotation is sumcient to cause sufiicient dispersion of the normally vertical currents of conditioning atmosphere from the smoke pit, to cause uniform treatment of all product in the oven.

It has also been discovered that very good results are secured if only a portion of the smoke trees rotate. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, it will be noted that only the outside trees are rotated, those on the inner rail remaining stationary. The rotation of only a portion of the trees may not create as great a dispersion `of conditioning atmosphere as when all revolve,

`but very satisfactory` results can be secured by -such means.

:method whereby movable trees can be easily connected with the driving equipment used to revolve smoke trees.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown illustrative embodiments oi the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details, features and method steps without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A smoke oven including heating and smoking means, said oven having a plurality of individual smoking rooms, each of said rooms vbeing disposed about a common point as a center, a door to each of said rooms, a common alley leading to said center for servicing each of said rooms, said doors all opening onto said alley whereby meats to be smoked may be moved into each of said rooms from said alley.

` 2. A smoke oven for dispiay purposes includ- `ing heating and smoking means and having a transparent wall to permit visual inspection of the smoking process, said oven having a plurality of individual smoking rooms disposed in substantially circular arrangement, said transparent wall being disposed around the periphery of said circle, a door to each of said rooms, a common alley for servicing each of said rooms, said doors zall opening onto said alley whereby meats to be smoked may be movedinto each of said rooms from'said alley.

3. A smoke oven for display purposes includ- `ing heating and smoking means and having a transparent wall to permit visual inspection of the smoking process, said oven having a plurality .ofv individual smoking-rooms Adisposed in substantially circular arrangement, said transparent lwall forming roughly the periphery of said circle,

each of' said levels, said doors all opening onto saidalleys whereby-meats to bel smoked may be moved into each of said rooms at each level from the corresponding alley.

4. In a smokeV oven for smoking a plurality of trees of meats, rotatable trees for holding said meats, means to krotate said trees, said last named means beingeffective to cause adjacent trees to rotate in opposite directions, said trees being disposed closely adjacentA each other whereby the smoky atmosphere surrounding said trees is agitated by the motion of said trees.

5. A smoke oven for display purposes including heating and smoking means and -havingV a transparent wall to permit visual inspection of the smoking process, said oven having a plurality of individual smoking rooms disposed in substantially circular arrangement, said transparent wall being disposed around the periphery of said circle, each of said rooms being large enough to receive a plurality of trees of meats to be smoked, rotatable trees for holding said meats, meansto rotate said trees, said last named Ameans being eiective to cause adjacent trees to rotate in opposite directions, said trees being disposed closely adjacent each other whereby the smoky atmosphere surrounding said trees is agitated by the motion of said trees, and an opening disposed in the rear wall in each of said rooms whereby said trees may be placed in said rooms. l,

6. A smoke oven for display purposes including heating and smoking means and having a transparent wall to permit visual inspection of the smoking process, said oven having a plurality of individual smoking rooms disposed in substantially circular arrangement, said transparent wall being disposed around the periphery of said circle, said rooms being divided horizontally to provide diierent levels for smoking meats, rotatable trees for holding said meats, means for supporting said trees at each of said levels, means to rotate said trees, said last named means being effective to cause adjacent trees to rotate in opposite directions, said trees being disposed closely adjacent each other whereby the smoky atmosphere surrounding said trees is agitated by the motion of said trees, and openings in the wall of said rooms whereby said trees may be movedvinto each level of said room.

EDWARD A. SCI-IIEWE. 

